Having bought a phone with a good camera, you will not become a professional photographer. However, you can capture in every detail the moments that are dear to your heart. Or take a beautiful selfie that is not ashamed to post on Instagram.
Having studied the smartphone models whose cameras scored the highest DxOMark rating, we created the top 10 best camera phones of 2018.
Our collections of the best smartphones of 2018:
Brand Country: European (A-Class); Chinese with Aliexpress.
Brand Name: Samsung; Xiaomi Sony Huawei.
Price segment, rubles: up to 5000; up to 10000; up to 15000; up to 20,000; up to 25000; up to 30,000.
Availability: inexpensive; the most expensive.
Features: push-button; the best camera; camera + battery; protected.
Trends: new items of the year; the most anticipated.
10. Apple iPhone 8
Price, on average, 51 600 rubles.
DxOMark Rating - 92
Among the giants from Samsung, Xiaomi and Huawei, the 4.7-inch Cupertin’s G8 looks small. But without problems it fits in your pocket and fits comfortably in your hand. Inside it is the top-end "apple" chip A11 Bionic, from 64 to 256 GB of memory for user data and a battery capacity of 1821 mAh.
Unlike the Plus version, the iPhone 8 has one 12 MP main camera. It has an aperture of f / 1.8, five-time digital zoom, optical image stabilization and support for Live Photos. But all this was also in the iPhone 7. The key difference from the previous model is that the iPhone 8 can now shoot 4K video at 60 frames per second, and also does slow motion recording at a speed of 240 frames per second in 1080p mode (Full HD), not just 720p.
Pros:
- Convenient size.
- There is an NFC.
- There is fast and wireless charging.
- The camera takes excellent quality photos even in low light.
- The case is waterproof.
- Very loud stereo speakers.
Minuses:
- Cannot insert a memory card.
- It is not easy to scratch the glass; it is better not to carry the phone without a case.
9. Samsung Galaxy Note 8
Cost, on average, 56 990 rubles.
DxOMark Rating - 94
Everything is fine in this phone: a frameless 6.3-inch AMOLED display, a huge amount of RAM in 6 GB, and from 64 to 256 GB of internal storage, one of the best Snapdragon 835 processors at the moment (or Exynos 8898M - depends on the region).
However, what sets the Galaxy Note 8 apart from its competitors is its dual 12-megapixel camera with optical image stabilization and optical Zoom 2x. It takes detailed, colorful photographs, has a bokeh effect (background blur), and has an easy to use but fully functional application. The Galaxy Note 8 has no shortage of photo modes: Auto, Pro, Panorama, and Food, and the missing modes can be downloaded from the Galaxy app store. There's also a new Full View camera option that matches the sizes of Snapchat and Instagram Stories.
Pros:
- Futuristic frameless design.
- One of the best screens in terms of brightness and color reproduction in the mobile market.
- It is possible to add memory.
- There is an NFC.
- There is fast and wireless charging.
- There is a stylus.
Minuses:
- Combined slot for nanoSIM and microSD.
8. Apple iPhone 8 Plus
Costs - 67 900 rubles
DxOMark Rating - 94
Compared to the tenth ranking number of DxOMark smartphone cameras in 2018, the “plus” model was 54 grams heavier, got a 5.5-inch screen and a dual 12/12 MP camera with a wide-angle and a telephoto lens. Camera autofocus is very fast, and shooting can be done in 4K resolution and at 60 frames per second.
Overall camera performance is an evolution over previous iPhone lenses. Moreover, the sharpness under mixed conditions is impressive - you can see a lot of details both on the brighter and darker portions of the photo.
In general, the iPhone 8 Plus tends to overexposure each photo, and the image becomes brighter than an object or scene in real life.
Pros:
- Large screen with excellent color reproduction.
- Dual main camera, which makes bright and very clear photos in any lighting condition.
- There is an NFC.
- Very fast A11 Bionic processor.
- There is wireless and fast charging.
Minuses:
- Cannot insert a memory card.
- The battery lasts for a day of use with an average load.
- Heavy and slippery body.
7. Xiaomi Mi MIX 2S
The estimated price in Russia is 32,000 rubles.
DxOMark Rating - 97
At the end of March 2018, the presentation of the new 5.99-inch frameless frame from Xiaomi took place. A new Chinese phone with a good camera will receive the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, 6/64 GB, 6/128 GB or 8/256 GB memory processor, as well as a 3400 mAh battery.
Mi MIX 2S has a rear dual 12-megapixel camera with a Sony IMX363 sensor, a 4-axis optical stabilization system, phase detection autofocus and a double optical zoom.
In addition, the camera uses the capabilities of artificial intelligence to automatically adjust to the shooting conditions and blur the background in portrait photos.
Pros:
- There is a quick charge.
- There is a slot for a memory card.
- The top model will be “enclosed” in an elegant ceramic case. Regular versions will receive a back cover made of glass.
- The ability to identify the user by face.
- This is the cheapest smartphone with a good camera in our top 10.
- There is an NFC.
Minuses:
- Most likely, like Mi Mix 2 - one of the best Chinese smartphones, its “big brother” will be very slippery. And all his beauty is hidden in a case.
6. Huawei Mate 10 Pro
It is offered for 44 890 rubles.
DxOMark Rating - 97
Few Chinese smartphones can be compared in design and performance with this luxurious gadget made of glass and metal, with a six-inch OLED screen and an aspect ratio of 18: 9. The smart HiSilicon Kirin 970 processor, 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of flash memory allow the Mate 10 Pro to “pull” heavy applications and games at maximum settings. A 4000 mAh battery can withstand one and a half days at full load.
There are two camera modules on the back of the Mate 10 Pro: a 12-megapixel color sensor with optical image stabilization, and a 20-megapixel black and white sensor. Both cameras have an f / 1.6 aperture. This solves the problem with poor image quality in low light.
The phone also supports the new AI zoom (intelligent digital zoom) function, and can evaluate an object that has fallen into the field of the video finder to set the optimal shooting parameters.
Pros:
- Huge screen with rich colors and automatic brightness control.
- Clear and loud sound from stereo speakers.
- There is an NFC.
- Instant fingerprint sensor.
- There is a quick charge.
Minuses:
- Cannot insert a memory card.
- There is no 3.5 jack.
5. Apple iPhone X
The average cost in the maximum configuration is 70,400 rubles.
DxOMark Rating - 97
The frameless 5.8-inch smartphone was Apple's most anticipated new product of 2017. Losing the Home button and changing the design were dangerous but necessary steps after many years of similarity of most iPhone models. The result is a powerful and elegant device with a fast six-core A11 Bionic processor, 256 or 64 GB of internal storage and the ability to identify by face.
The pride of the iPhone X is a dual 12/12 MP rear camera. It has an f / 1.8 aperture, and can take pictures with natural color reproduction and minimal “noise”.
To improve the quality of pictures in low light, the iPhone X uses a wide-angle lens and digital zoom. Therefore, an image taken in the dark will not appear dull and blurry.
“Standard” iPhone photos automatically have a good level of blur.
The TrueDepth front camera with a resolution of 7 MP makes very bright, and clear selfies. Not only does she know how to blur the background, you can also use the “Portrait” options to change the lighting of the scene or even cut yourself out of the image and place your image on a black background.
Pros:
- Top performance.
- Great cameras.
- User friendly interface.
- Juicy and bright screen.
- There is an NFC.
- Convenient option Face ID.
Minuses:
- Cannot insert a memory card.
- The body is slippery and heavy.
4. Google Pixel 2
Can be purchased for 45 380 rubles.
DxOMark Rating - 98
The Google Pixel 2 is a good example of the fact that two rear cameras are not always better than one. Also, this small 5-inch phone has an extremely convenient way to call the Google Assistant. Just squeeze the sides of the phone. This is much easier than accidentally pressing another button (Bixby) in the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus.
The latest games can easily go to the Pixel 2 thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, 4 GB of RAM and 64 to 128 GB of memory for user data.
The 12.2 MP rear camera with F / 1.8 aperture is the best part of the Pixel 2. The color reproduction of the photo is realistic, and the pictures look bright. Even photos taken in low light conditions when using the Pixel 2 look like we turned on the light.
Both the 8-megapixel front and rear cameras have a background portrait blur mode. And this phone has optical image stabilization and very fast laser autofocus.
Pros:
- It lies comfortably in the palm of your hand.
- Has an NFC chip.
- Has a moisture protection class IP67.
- Holds a charge for a long time, despite the seemingly modest battery capacity - 2700 mAh.
- Superb stereo speakers.
Minuses:
- Cannot insert a memory card.
3. Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus
You can buy for 54,000 rubles.
DxOMark Rating - 99
This is one of the largest Android phones, with a 6.2-inch bezel-less screen. In many ways, it looks like last year's S8 Plus, however, in the updated model, the location of the fingerprint sensor has changed (now it is centered on the rear panel) and stereo speakers have appeared.
The powerful Exynos 9810 chipset, the impressive RAM size (6 GB) and 64 to 256 GB of internal memory will allow you to use your smartphone for several years when other flagships are already out of date.
The Galaxy S9 Plus (as well as S9) has an excellent dual 12/12-megapixel camera with an f / 2.4 aperture, automatically applied in bright light and expanded to f / 1.5 in the dark. This is the world's first mobile phone with such a wide aperture. Thanks to this, a photo taken in low light will be extremely detailed and bright.
The main camera of the device can capture video with super-slow motion at a speed of 960 frames per second. And the 8-megapixel front camera can be used to turn your face into an animated one using AR Emoji.
Pros:
- There is a slot for expanding memory.
- You can make contactless payments.
- Battery 3500 mAh.
- Fantastically beautiful appearance.
- The widest aperture of the main camera in the ranking of smartphones with the best camera in 2018.
- There are both wireless and fast charging.
- There is an unlock on the face.
Minuses:
- Fingerprints are clearly visible on the glass of the back panel.
- AR Emoji is an overly publicized feature with few features.
2. Huawei P20
Estimated cost - 46 thousand rubles.
DxOMark Rating - 102
Updates for the P20 compared to last year's Huawei P10 include: a glass back panel, new case colors, a powerful eight-core Kirin 970 processor and an increased screen size of 5.8 inches versus 5.1 for the Huawei P10. In addition, the P20 has acquired 128 GB of flash memory and has 4 GB of RAM. This should be more than enough for most tasks, although it is less than 6 GB inside the P20 Pro.
The Huawei P20 has a dual main camera (12 MP f / 1.8 color module and 20 MP f / 1.6 monochrome module). Thanks to its wide aperture, the camera can capture more light, and even in low light, the pictures come out very clear and with minimal digital noise. The camera has a built-in memory, thanks to which it is possible to conduct super slow motion at a frequency of 960 frames per second and in HD resolution. Until now, only smartphones with a good camera from Sony and Samsung could boast of this.
On the front panel of the Huawei P20 there is a 24-megapixel selfie camera that shows the details of the face in such detail that the smallest pimples are visible.
Pros:
- Premium design.
- Flagship processor.
- Great cameras.
- 3400 mAh high capacity battery.
- There is a quick charge.
- There is an NFC.
Minuses:
- Cannot insert a memory card.
- No headphone jack.
- Thick bottom frame.
1. Huawei P20 Pro
Estimated price - 64 100 rubles.
DxOMark Rating - 109
The phone with the best camera of 2018 - Huawei P20 Pro - has a top-notch design and a significant update of internal components. Compared with the Huawei P20, the new photo flagman boasts an enlarged 6.1-inch OLED screen with an 18: 9 aspect ratio, a more capacious 4000 mAh battery, 6 GB of RAM (4 GB for the regular model) and IP67 waterproof protection.
However, the most important difference is the unique triple camera, created in collaboration with the German company Leica. This is the best camera in the smartphone of 2018 at the moment.
The question arises: why does a smartphone need three cameras at once? Previously, Huawei equipped its gadgets with cameras with a color and black and white sensors, which worked in tandem to get a photo with improved depth and sharpness. And thanks to the addition of a telephoto lens, you can shoot objects that cannot be approached closely. It allows you to zoom in on the image without losing its quality.
The Huawei P20 Pro has a color lens with fantastic 40 megapixels, and it works with a 20 megapixel monochrome sensor.
Above the RGB lens is an 8-megapixel sensor. It has 3x optical zoom and 5x program zoom.
Sample photos on Huawei P20 Pro
The camera also has software enhancements, including six-axis AIS image stabilization, which allows you to take great shots in low light and without the use of a tripod. And the intelligent assistant Master AI will tell you how best to compose a shot when shooting landscapes and group portraits.
On the front panel of the phone there is a 24-megapixel sensor with an aperture of f / 2.0, thanks to which your face on the selfie will be visible in detail.
Pros:
- The glass back panel shimmers beautifully, and thanks to the rounded edges, the gadget lies comfortably in your hand.
- Powerful camera.
- Top-end Huawei Kirin 970 processor with NPU module for neural network computing.
- There is an NFC.
- There is Huawei Super Charge fast charging technology.
- Very fast fingerprint sensor integrated in the Home button below the screen.
Minuses:
- No headphone jack.
- Thick bottom frame.
- No support for memory cards. Will have to be content with 128 GB of internal memory.
The P20 Pro pays so much attention to camera improvements that other elements of the phone seem relatively disadvantaged in terms of updates. Nevertheless, this is the most beautiful and powerful phone from Huawei. In Russian stores, he, as well as the P20, will appear in April.
